Parents of quadruplets score ‘shabby treatment’

The parents of the quadruplets who were born prematurely and died last week went to the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday to complain against the hospitals that allegedly gave them shabby treatment causing their children to die.

Dr. Margarita Galon, DOH Undersecretary for Luzon, said that the testimonies of Vladimir Calisaan and his wife Jocelyn would be vital to the investigation being conducted by the DOH on the quadruplets’ death.

"The statements will help the investigating panel establish the circumstances surrounding the quadruplets’ birth and death," she noted.

The independent panel, composed of people who are experts in law, hospital administration, pediatrics and obstetrics, was given until Aug. 8 to wrap up the investigation.

The panel will question the Calisaan parents, doctors and hospital staff involved in the birth and death of the quadruplets. It will also conduct on-site facility inspection of the hospitals involved.

The quadruplets – Ma. Angeline, Ma. Angelica, Ma. Therese and Ma. Jobel – were born prematurely in a lying-in clinic on 6th Avenue, Caloocan City July 15.

Shortly after birth, the children were moved to the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital but it had no available incubators for the quadruplets.

Vladimir told reporters that when the MCU learned that they had no money for the hospitalization, the hospital wanted to transfer them to other hospitals but not until they pay their hospital bills of around P14,000.

"The transfer of my children was delayed for over five hours because we had to raise the money to pay the hospital bills... A certain Dr. Navarro (of MCU) said my children needed to be placed in an incubator, and, if that was the case, they should not have delayed us," he added.

Vladimir claimed that when the ambulance that would bring his daughters to the Fabella Hospital was about to leave, an MCU staffer called them back because they had to settle P147 worth of diapers that the quadruplets used. This caused a delay of around 10 minutes.

The Calisaan couple intends to file charges against the MCU Hospital "to prevent other families from experiencing what we have gone through."

"I know, it would be painful for me to see other babies dying because of hospital negligence. So I want these hospitals to learn their lessons," he said.

According to Galon, the filing of the criminal case would have to be made by the Calisaan couple while the DOH will handle the administrative charges.

"It’s up to the parents to file criminal case in proper court. While the DOH would be in charge of the administrative cases."